Prep wrestling team capsules: Eagles primed for lasting success

Young Riders will have to grow up quick

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
11/28/2012 08:31:35 PM MST

Thompson Valley

For the first time that coach Dave Juergensen can remember, his wrestling lineup will not be full. But he also knows the Eagles will be a handful to deal with all season long, especially in the big events.

"I think for the first time I can honestly admit we're more of a tournament team than a dual team," Juergensen said. "We have more guys than we have had in past that can go deep in the state tournament. That's what I'm most excited about. When we get to tough tournaments, I'm excited to see how we fare in those."

With seven returning state qualifiers, including two state placers, the Eagles will open the season ranked in the top five by On the Mat. Francisco Marquez was third a year ago at 152, and Tanner Williams is a two-time state placer who was fifth at 120. Collin Williams, Ben Hewson, Zach Chavez, Nick Nira and Josh McLaughlin all return with the intention of making more of their state experience.

Juergensen also expects Sage D'Ambrosia, Robbie Gywnn, David Eusea and Matt Isaacs to fare well, and incoming freshmen Vlad Kazavoz, Parker Simington, Patton Graff and Isreal Catano to do more than just fill out the lineup.

Advertisement

What he sees in the wrestling room is a group of talented performers pushing each other for spots and making each other better. He's also issued a challenge to all of them to make themselves better when they aren't in the room.

"I think we have several guys capable of winning the whole thing," he said. "A lot of things need to fall in place for that to happen -- peaking at the right time, staying healthy and avoiding injuries. We've been talking a lot about doing things on their own, taking responsibility for their own success, doing things behind the scenes when nobody is watching them, do things to give them an extra edge in big matches at the state tournament."

Mountain View

Coach Scott Barker has a lot of wrestlers who have spent a few years in the varsity lineup, but only one of them, senior Jeremiah Clymer, has state experience. Barker wants that to change, and he thinks it can.

"We have experience in the lineup from 126 through 152," Barker said. "We have guys with past varsity experience, regional experience, and only one went to state. It's time for them to start setting goals for moving deep into February."

Back are Austin Anaya, Austin Dunbar, Matt Combs, Dylan Obenshain and Mason Barber, with Dylon Hernandez and Tannen Brand ready to step into the varsity lineup. In practice, the team is focused on doing the little things, making the improvements necessary to reach their goals.

He has noticed a difference in the room, as the returners have a better understanding of the expectations, raising the bar on a more competitive atmosphere.

"We've been inexperienced the last few years, so we're hoping to step up and take it to another level," Barker said. "We're focusing on a lot of things, individual success, as well as team success."

Team success will need to come on Saturdays, as up to three holes in the lineup will make it hard for the Mountain Lions to win duals. Barker knows this, but he doesn't see any reason why tournaments can't be a successful venture for his squad.

Loveland

The program has had a nine-year run of having at least one wrestler win a state championship, but the Indians have just one returning state placer to lean on as the campaign begins.

Senior Dalton Weis, who was sixth in 5A at 182 pounds, will lead a young group of wrestlers into the fray. Coach Patrick Schlosser not only needs him to score points, but take the rest of the room under his wing and show them the way.

"For Dalton, I'm looking forward to him taking his leadership role and really taking it to the next level and showing these kids what it takes to get to state and what it takes to place," Schlosser said. "His goal is to be a state champion. He knows he has to work harder than he did last year to place sixth. The work is what I want out of him. When the younger guys see the senior working hard, then they know."

Eric Dowse, Zach Deeb, Irvin Alvarado, Wyatt Semminar, Jimmy Preciado, Stanley Garcia, Austin Seeba, Ruben Rivera and Sam Lopez all return with varsity experience, which should help the growth process. Twin freshmen brothers Seth and Stefano Abrao enter the program and should fill in the two lightest weights.

What Schlosser sees from his young troops is a group that wants to grow and is hungry to get better. In his eyes, they have to go all out because there is no other choice for them.

"Last year, we had three, four guys I knew would go out and wrestle their butts off, but only about three or four. This year have a team where they all have to go out and wrestle their butts off, because there aren't the seasoned guys. They're newer. They still have a long road ahead of them, so I know they'll go out and battle, because they have to."

Roosevelt

The complexion of the RoughRiders' lineup will be much different than in recent seasons, with loads of experience being replaced by youth. For coach Darren Hankins, that just means there is more room for growth.

"We're going to be really young," he said. "We have some younger kids who are excited to have an opportunity. Last year, we had so many seniors, I wasn't able to get a lot of them in the lineup. It was one of those years where we kind of knew what to expect. Last year, we had a lot of kids we were familiar with. This year, there's a lot of excitement. We have a lot of new kids, so there's a lot of hunger. They're excited to be in the lineup, and that's always good."

Roosevelt has two state returners in Jace Lopez, who was second in state at 138, as well as Spencer Urban. Hankins feels Logan Newcomb, Harley Bending, Dustin Hayden, Josh Semmler, Wyatt Allerheiligan, Randy Molinar, Tyler Francis and Keagan Davis are ready to take advantage of their moment, with freshmen Blake Slaymaker and Jacob Howell vying for spots.

They will be tested early, with Windsor and Broomfield, perennial state powers, up early on the slate. The Warrior Classic will challenge the team right before the holiday break, but Hankins feels all those early lessons will serve the team well.

Lopez, who has placed twice, could end up in the same weight class as the two-time state champ who beat him last year, Broomfield's Phil Downing. They could even meet in that early dual, depending on where they both fall in line on the scale. However it shakes out, Hankins feels Lopez is ready for his final run.

"He's put a lot of time in during the spring, and he kind of had an injury late in the spring that kept him out of the summer," Hankins said. "He came back this fall, and he's wrestling really well. I think he's energized and ready to go. He should have a good year."

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story

Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the distinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens' latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. Full Story